Edge trimming means for use in rotary printing presses



July 20, 1943. w. A. PRATT EDGE TRIMMING MEANS FOR USE IN ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed Feb. 28, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l i mw INVENTOR W.A.PRATT 8v 1 W W #2:

July 20, 1943. w. A. PRATT EDGE TRIMMING MEANS FOR USE IN ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed Feb. 28, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 V l I i I I I u A I l l I I l I l I I I INVENTOR W.A. PRATT W. 3x 7r w. A. PRATT 2,324,950

EDGE TRIMMING MEANS FOR USE IN ROTARY PRINTING PRESSBS July 20, 1943.

Filed Feb. 28, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 fg gfq 11 m new INVENTOR BVW Q Patented July 20, 1943 1 umreosmres Emma. o enm n V .npqn 'TRIMM1NG"MEANS FOR USE IN I nommr PRINTING masses Wil iam Andr w P watfo d, Engl nd 'Appl cationlebruary 2a, 1942, semmo; 432358 In GreatBritain May-29',-1941 .10 was. 16 -67) 'This invention relates to edg trimming mechani'sm for use with particular advantage inrotaryprinting presses. As is well knownthe'sheets or what are usually known as copies on their exit from the printing press are severed from the web by mere slitters, or perforators with the re- 7 sult. that their edges are rough or serrated and, in order that such copies shouldhave smooth or clean cut'edges they have to be trimmed after leaving the press in a separate trimming 'ma- W'ith this object in view according to this Y ventic improved edge trimming mechanisn is actually embodied in the printing press itself, i. e., preferably in what is known as the folding section of the press and comprises cutting means for trimming the head and tail edges of the printed matterand cutting means for trimming the fore edge thereof in such co-operatiyeassociatlon as to effect these trimming operations an tomatically in a continuous performance within thepress as will hereinafterbe more fully described by referenceto a constructional form of the invention found to fully afford the advan tages above referred to and illustrated byway of example in the accompanying drawings in which: 7 I

Fig. 1 i aside elevation of what is known as the folding section of a rotary printing vpress embodying the trimm ng mechanism to this invention; i .2isa p an i w t of; i, 1

.Fig. 3A is a detail face view ofthe mean for the accommodation of the straight knife for use on a rotary member hereinafter referred tofas the cutting cylinder; Y Fig. 3B is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 4A represents detail plan of a use'fui form of this knife;

4B is an en largedend view showingthe edge portion thereof, and I Figs. 5A and 5B show respectivefy'a face and edg'evi-ew of the anvil employed in the folding cylinder for c0-o pera.tion with said knifein the cutting cylinder aforesaid. According to this invention the trimming mechanism consistsof cutters or knives adapted to cut'thehead and tail edges of acopy Or sheet when the folder is running as a tabloid produc tion or the fore edge thereof when the folder-is running to a ,full page newspaper production and acutter iorf trimming the fore'edge of the copy when running as-a tabloid (ax-respectively the heads and tails when runninga a full newsaper production all of which are arranged'preferably as'shown within the folding section 0! the press, 1 3

As shown the cutters 2 for trimming the head and tail edges of a'copy'vvhen the folder is running as a tabloid production-or the fore edge when the folder is running to a full page news paper production are arranged respectiveiy on a driving shaft 1 and a driven shaft 1 A which are journalled parallel one with the other in bearings 1 and 1A mounted upon or forming part of the. stationary side frames '16 of the press. These cutters 2 consist of co-operatingpairs of rotary shearing knives which are secured in their proper'relation at the respective ends of the two shafts I and [A being preferably mounted on or forming part o f,co11ars ZAwhich are adjustable on these shafts so as to enable the circular knives 2 to be set tor'their accurate relationship with the requisite precision and according to'the width of the copy. "Theidriven shaft IA isad,

justable in relation to the shaft'i by the bear:

ings lAbeing pivoted acre and equipped with tensioning devices adapted to bear on swivels 3 which are mounted in lugs 8A projecting from the said bearings 1A. Each tensioning device as hown comprises a. tensioning screw 9 which is screwed into abrac'ket ii mounted on the adjacent side frame 1C and'is fitted with a spring 10 confined between the swivel 8 and a collar SA on the screw 9 ,As shown in Fig. 2 felt or rubber pads 3 are fitted .to the shaft IA bearing against the inner sides or faces of the knives 3 on that shaft and adapted to support respectively the head and tail or. the fore edge of acopy while the latter "is being trimmed In order to support and preve n e n f the py or sheet during the trimming operation cylindrical covers or sections 4 are provided to bridge the gapbetween the collars carrying the circular shearing knives '2. Laterally of and in juxtaposition with thec ter ac o he k es 2 on h t 4 are adjustable guide shoes 12 for guiding the trimthe job or folder.

mings to a chute shown at I6. Each of these guide shoes I2 shaped preferably as shown in Fig. 1 is associated with or forms part of an adjustable slide I3 mounted in a stationary guide member I3A enabling by displacement in its longitudinal sense the respective guide shoe I2 to be adjusted to the correct position in relation to the cutters and to the chute I6. The slides I3 are as shown connected by a common cross-bar or rod I313 adapted to be actuated by a. manually operable lever I4 which is hinged in a bracket HA secured to a stationary frame member IIB thus enabling the slides I3 and thereby both guide shoes I2 jointly to be appropriately set. These guide shoes I2, moreover, are adapted to be used for breaking the trimmed strips by cooperation of their knife edged ends with the front edge of the chute I6 when they are closed, i. e., have been set from their outer or inoperative to their inner or operative position. Each guide shoe is also provided with a blade like member I'5 the curved face of which clearly shown in Fig. 1 serves forseparating the trimmings from the copy or sheet immediately after they are severed by the cutters 2. The chute I6 having the form of a shallow pan or trough with its receiving or inner edge extending close to the curved ends of the guide shoes I2 is with advantage mounted on rocker arms ISA and terminates in a waste pipe H which is attached to a suction or exhaust fan (not shown) to take away the waste trimmings.

Associated with the cutter device 2 above described is the cutting device I8, 20 for use in trimming the fore edge of the copy when the folder is running as a tabloid or respectively the heads and tails when running as a full newspaper production. This device is with advantage embodied in the cutting cylinder I9 which is in direct co operation with the folding cylinder proper 2|. Each such device comprises a plain edged knife I8 preferably of the type shown in Fig. 4A made of special steel which is ground to suitable cutting angles as shown in Fig. 4B proved by experiment to give clearance as the knife cuts the signature or copy which latter may consist of any number of sheets. I

The knife I8 is with advantage adjustably mounted in a knife case I8A as shown in Fig. 3 which is embedded in a longitudinal recess I9A provided in the cutting cylinder I9. In the example here illustrated the knife is fitted between two jaws or bolsters I8B which are lodged within a recess I8C within its holder or knife case I8A proper, compression springs I8D being employed on which the bolsters I8B are yieldingly supported. Between the bolsters I8B the position of the knife I8 and of its projecting edge can be accurately set by the usual means of any appropriate type such as for example as indicated in Figs. 3A and 3B by a fine adjustment of the lateral clamping screws IBE adapted to pass .through the body of the case ISA and notches 18F in the shank edge of the knife in conjunc- "tion withcross pins I8H insertedthrough the slots I81 in the body of the knife. The number of cutting knives so arranged in the cutting cylinder will. obviously depend upon the layout of The knife I8 during its rotation with the cutting cylinder I9 is adapted to effect the cutting in co-operation with an anvil 20 embedded inthe folding cylinder 2|. The number of anvils is dependent on the layout of the job or folder and there may be two anvils to one knife or one to each or a multiple thereof. Each anvil is shaped like a bar or strip as shown in the views in Figs. 5A and 5B and is fitted at the requisite height within a corresponding recess in the folding cylinder in the cutting line of the corresponding cutting knife. These anvils are preferably made of steel, hardened and ground parallel to make it possible for the finest adjustment of the corresponding knife to make a clean cut of the edge. Phosphor bronze or any other unyielding material may, however, also be used for making these anvils. It is of importance that this embodiment of a cutting knife and of its corresponding anvil in their respective cylinders is such that when the copy or sheet arrives at the contact or co-operating point of the knife and its anvil it is cleanly severed by a wiping or kiss contact of the knife with the anvil. The cutting cylinder I9 and the folding cylinder 2| are arranged to rotate together so that whatever the ratio may .be between the two cylinders the knife and cutting anvil are timed to make kiss contact in exactly the same position each time they meet.

The shafts I and IA of the cutting device provided with the rotary shearing knives 2 are shown to be driven by a gear unit 5 and 6 which in the instance shown derives its driving movement through the gear 24 associated with the stitching cylinders 22, 23 of the press.

In operation which can be readily followed from the illustration in Fig. 1 the printed matter or copy 28 after leaving the stitching cylinders 22, 23 is caused to pass through the cutter set 2 in which the heads and tails of the copy when the folder is running as a tabloid or the fore edge when the folder is running as a newspaper production are trimmed as it passes through the folder during which operation the trimmings are immediately broken and deflected by the shoes I2 into the chute IE whence they are removed as stated preferably by the action of a suitable exhaust or suction fan. With the head and tail edges of the tabloid or the fore edge of a newspaper thus in a clean and smooth condition the copy with its fore edge or a newspaper with its tail edge then travels into the cutting device I8, 20 being preferably supported and guided by a pair of drawing rollers 25, 26 driven by an idler 21 from the driving shaft I; After the respective edge has been trimmed by the contact between the edge of the knife I8 and its anvil 20 it is caused to travel on to the delivery ready for stacking and dispatch. Practical experience has shown that the cutting edge of the knife gives most satisfactory results if the intersecting surfaces producing the cutting edge form an angle with one another of 45 as shown in Fig. 4B when it was found that a true wiping or kiss contact with the corresponding anvil 20 will be obtained.

Experience has also shown that by arranging and constructing the trimming mechanism in the manner above described the invention will do away with a considerabl amount of labour, saving many hours thus gained which will allow of the press times'being put back and dispensing also with the need for large numbers of auto matic trimming machines with consequent economising of floor space thus being of great advantage to printing concerns. This applies equally to printing concerns accustomed already to trim their publications and also to printers who for reasons of cost and time do not. For the latter it will definitely improve the appearance of the periodical, newspaper or publication which in turn would increase their sales value.

I claim:

1. In a rotary printing press having a folding section the provision in combination with the folding section of edge trimming mechanism comprising cutting means for trimming the heads and tails of a copy as well as means for trimming the fore edge thereof both said means being arranged in cooperative association for effecting the cutting of the head and tail edges as well as of the fore edge of said copy in a continuous automatic operation within the press.

2. In a rotary printing press having a folding section, the provision in combination with the folding section of edge trimming mechanism arranged within said folding section and adapted to trim the head and tail edges of a copy when the folder is running to a tabloid production and trimming mechanism arranged likewise within said folding section and adapted to trim the fore edge of the copy when the folder is running to a full newspaper production.

3. In a rotary printing press having a folding section the provision in combination with the folding section of edge trimming mechanism comprising a trimming device arranged within said folding section and adapted to trim the fore edge of the copy when the folder is running to a 3 tabloid production and a trimming device arranged likewise within said folding section and adapted to trim the heads and tails of the copy when the folder is running to a full newspaper production.

4. In a rotary printing press having a folding section the provisionin combination with the folding section of trimming mechanism arranged within said folding section and consisting of rotary circular knives adapted to cut the head and tail edges of a copy when the folder is running as a tabloid production and a rotary straight edged cutter for trimming the fore edge of said copy when running as a full newspaper production.

5. In a rotary printing press having a folding section the provision in combination with the folding section of mechanism within said folding section for trimming the head and tail edges as well as the fore edge of a copy consisting of rotary circular shearing knives adapted to cut the fore edge of said copy when the folder is running to a tabloid production and a straight edged rotary cutter for trimming the head and tails of said copy when the folder is running as a full page newspaper production.

6. In a rotary printing press having a folding section the provision in combination with the folding section of mechanism arranged within said folding section for trimming the head and tail edges as well as the fore edge of a copy comprising rotary circular shearing knives arranged in juxtaposition to cooperate in pairs respectively in an adjustable manner, pads provided for supporting the edges of said copy and covers between said knives for preventing creasing of the printed matter during the trimming operation.

I. In a rotary printing press having a folding section the provision in combination with the folding section of mechanism for trimming the head and tail edges as well as the fore edge of a copy' comprising in combination with rotary circular shearing knives adjustable guide shoes adapted to divert the trimmings and with a chute for their removal associated with said guide shoes 7 for causing said trimmings to be broken and directed into said chute;

8. In a rotary printing press having a folding section the provision in combination with the folding section of mechanism for trimming the head and tail edges as well as the fore edge of a copy comprising in combination with rotary circular trimming knives adjustable guide shoes adapted to divert the trimmings and a chute for receiving said trimmings, and means in communication with said chute for removing said trimmings from said chute by exhaustion.

9. In a rotary printing press having a folding section the provision in combination with the folding section of mechanism for trimming the head and tail edges as well as the fore edge of a copy comprising rotary circular trimming knives arranged in juxtaposition to cooperate in pairs respectively in an adjustable manner, guide shoes for diverting the trimmings, and manually operable slides connected to said guide shoes for adjusting the same,

10. In a rotary printing press having a folding section the provision within the folding section of mechanism for trimming the head and tail edges as well as the fore edge of a copy comprising in combination with rotary shearing trimmers a cutting device constituted by a straight edged knife adjustably fitted in a rotatable cylindrical carrier and a corresponding anvil carried by an associated cylinder adapted in cooperation with said carrier during rotation to effect a clean cut 'by mere Wiping contact. 

